Vadym Novynskyi: The most important condition for the reintegration of the Donbas is the creation of opportunities for the return of refugees

In Ukraine, at the state level, it is necessary to assess the amount of housing damaged during the hostilities in the Donbas, as well as develop a mechanism to compensate Ukrainians for the value of lost property. Such a proposal was made by MP, Vadym Novynskyi, member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Donbas Reintegration.

According to him, in the state budget - 2020, for the first time in five years, funds have been allocated to compensate for the cost of lost housing for IDPs, but their volume is miserable, about UAH 40 million.

“Today, the most active participation in the restoration of destroyed housing in the Donbas is taken by international organizations, non-governmental foundations, rather than the Ukrainian authorities. The government is obliged to delve into this problem and solve it, take concrete obligations to protect property lost by people. Sooner or later there will be a need to create a special body that will deal with these issues. This was the case, for example, during a peace settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where, along with the signing of the Peace Dayton Agreements, a special commission was created to resolve property issues,” Vadym Novynskyi said.

He also said that at the end of October 2019 he had registered in the parliament a draft law No. 2286, which proposed to approve the procedure for compensation for housing lost by people due to hostilities.

“The reintegration of the Donbas should begin with creating conditions for the return of refugees. Today, tens of thousands of families are left without a roof over their heads, or their housing is so ruined that it does not allow them to live normally and safely. Over the past five years, the state has not implemented a real, effective mechanism of compensation to people who lost their property due to the war. With this draft law, I propose to settle the procedure for compensation for property damage caused as a result of the ATO or the operation of the Joint Forces, as well as well as the right to material assistance to victims, compensation for losses so that Ukrainians can buy or build new housing, or at least repair damaged one. Tens of thousands of families are waiting for such decisions from the state,” the MP emphasized.